A primary goal for each member than ever before. of the Northwest Arkansas But the road back from elbow Naturals is one that is universal reconstruction, one that last across minor league baseball – to year’s Washington Nationals realize their potential and reach phenom Stephen Strasburg is the major leagues. But one currently on and one that member of the Naturals’ starting Naturals’ left-hander John rotation has a different perspective Lamb will have to navigate, can than any of his teammates. be a long one. Pitchers Zach Miner has already been typically need 12-18 months to there. return to the mound in a game Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in situation. Knowing what was 2000, Miner began his first ahead, Miner dedicated himself journey up the ladder of to his rehab from day one. professional baseball the “I pretty much made it my following summer. He reached main focus, I gave up a lot of Triple-A in 2005 before a mid- things that I enjoy doing that I season trade to the Detroit Tigers. thought could aggravate it,” he The next year, he made his major said. “I haven’t played golf league debut against the Boston since I had surgery, I didn’t fish Red Sox on June 4, 2006. really at all since I didn’t want Over the next four years, Miner to put any extra stress on it.” Zach Miner made his big-league debut with the Tigers in 2006. spent the majority of his time in Though his rehab was the American League, serving as a going according to plan, versatile member of the Tigers’ the start of 2010, Miner attempted pitching staff. He made 35 starts to rehabilitate his elbow. After an for Detroit and came out of the MRI showed no significant bullpen 122 times, posting a 25-20 damage, he continued the rehab record and a 4.24 ERA. He even process. When the injury pitched in a World Series game worsened, he had another MRI, with Detroit in 2006. By all which revealed a torn ligament in accounts, Miner was well on his his elbow that necessitated way to a long major league career, reconstructive surgery. Despite the earning a significant raise in 2009, outcome, Miner believes that his first year of eligibility for attempting rehab to that extent salary arbitration. was the right choice. Like many pitchers, Miner had “You never want to have surgery, battled through injuries. He spent so usually you try and exhaust all a few weeks on the disabled list in rehab options before you have it. 2007 with what was believed to be But it got to the point where we a flexor tendon strain in his weren’t able to manage it anymore pitching elbow. Though he and I had it fixed.” recovered and avoided the On May 28, 2010, Miner disabled list for the next two underwent Tommy John surgery, a years, the injury turned out to be a procedure in which the torn elbow sign of things to come. ligament is replaced by a tendon “I think at the end of the ’09 from elsewhere in the body. season [the elbow] was bothering Named for the pitcher who me a good deal,” Miner said. “But underwent the first instance of the I just thought rest in the offseason surgery in 1974, the operation is would strengthen it up again.” common among baseball players It didn’t. Unable to pitch during and now has a higher success rate 16 2011 Souvenir Program NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS Miner was still nowhere near able to pitch until returning to the mound as the late in the 2011 2010 offseason approached. season, the Facing another round of salary Royals offered arbitration for a player who may the right-hander a not even be able to play in the minor league upcoming season, the Tigers contract this past declined to tender Miner a December. On contract. He became a free agent, Dec. 31, 2010, one who was unable to show Miner signed the teams what he could do. contract and Though his rehab progressed as officially became well as could be expected, it was a member of the still a grind in the Florida sun. Kansas City Day after day, Miner played catch organization. with his physical therapist Dave Miner credits Bailey, as well as with his father his past and his friends. As the months relationships with went by, Miner was still far away some of the key from throwing in anything officials in the resembling a game situation. Royals’ baseball “It was definitely a stressful time operations not being able to [pitch]. There department. In were some other teams that called particular, and wanted to see me throw, and I General Manager was only playing catch at 75 feet.” Dayton Moore The one team that trusted was a member of Miner’s rehab process was the Atlanta’s front Miner earned his first win of the season on May 27, one day shy of the Kansas City Royals. Despite office while Miner anniversary of his Tommy John surgery. knowing that Miner might not be worked his way through the Braves’ system. 15 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings “[I knew] Dayton, along with with the Naturals. The Royals [Assistant G.M.] J.J. [Picollo] and approached his comeback a lot of other people in the cautiously, limiting him to less organization,” Miner said. “I think than 70 pitches in his first six that they trusted what me and my outings. Though not every day has agent were telling them. They been easy, Miner said that he has never flew down to take a look at not had to overhaul his mechanics me, they pretty much just trusted since the surgery. that I was where I said I was.” “There were days early on where New contract in hand, Miner in between innings I’d get stiffer continued his rehab and joined the than I used to, and so maybe my Royals at the team’s facility in pitch selection was different,” he Surprise, Ariz. After beginning the said. “I’d go out and throw more regular season in Extended Spring breaking balls early in the inning Training, Miner made his return to ‘til my arm got loose. But I feel the rubber for the Naturals on May like I’m relatively the same 16 against the Tulsa Drillers at pitcher that I was before.” ONEOK Field. In that game, he According to Miner, one of the allowed two runs in four innings, biggest differences between the throwing 60 pitches in his first major leagues and Double-A is the professional outing in a year and a pressure to win. Now that he is half. back in the minors, where the Two starts later, Miner fired five focus is on development in innings of one-run ball against the addition to the standings, Miner Frisco RoughRiders, earning his has the opportunity to experiment first win since 2009 just one day with his arsenal. shy of the one-year anniversary of “In Detroit, we had to win. It was his surgery. all about winning every day, and if Since then, the results have been you didn’t pitch well your job In 157 major-league games, Miner has posted a 25-20 record mixed. Through the end of the could be on the line,” he said. with a 4.24 ERA. first half of the season, Miner was “You were up there for survival 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA and collected and it was sometimes hard to work 18 2011 Souvenir Program NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS on things. There are a couple of County Cougars, the Royals’ new admits that there are times when talking with them, trying to help things I’ve kind of wanted to try Class-A Midwest League affiliate. he thinks about what might come them and listening to what they and work on that I’ve never really Wilson has said that he didn’t next if he doesn’t make it back. have to say.” done in the last five years, so I’m seriously consider coaching until “I think it’s definitely human More than anything else, Miner doing those things now.” that stint with the Naturals, when nature. The days I feel good, and is committed to writing a second Miner’s last full season in the he was able to take a mental step my velocity’s back, you don’t chapter in his major league career. minor leagues was 2005. At that back, see how the organization really think about all that stuff. One that he hopes has no end in time, he was a 23-year-old operated and imagine himself But there are certain days where sight. working toward his first taste of continuing a baseball career in it’s a struggle and you get “Very few guys make so much the big leagues, the same age as that type of position. frustrated like anything else. money that they can just go Natural pitchers Chris Dwyer and Wilson was 36 years old when he “There’s a lot of rust that needs fishing and play golf every day Buddy Baumann. Six years later, suited up for the Naturals. At 29, to be knocked off and those [after they retire]. Obviously I still Miner is the old man of the locker Miner is still in his physical prime thoughts can definitely creep into hope that happens, but you never room. and does not spend as much time your mind.